Mississippi State Set to End Regular Season with Series at Ole Miss
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State, ranked No. 18 in the NCAA softball poll, is heading to Oxford for a three-game series against in-state rival Ole Miss to conclude the regular season. The series runs Thursday through Saturday, with all SEC teams playing their final weekend before the SEC Tournament.
Under coach Samantha Ricketts, the Bulldogs have had success against Mississippi teams, posting a 31-6 record against in-state opponents. They are coming off a series victory over LSU, only the second in program history. Ole Miss, meanwhile, won its last series against Auburn. A win in this weekend’s series could improve Mississippi State’s chances of securing one of 16 regional host spots for the NCAA Tournament.
Mississippi State has played all eight SEC series against Quad 1 teams this season, maintaining a record outside of Quad 1 losses. The Bulldogs have just one loss outside of Quad 1 play all year. They also lead the league in in-state wins and have outscored Mississippi opponents 266-84 under Ricketts.
Key players include pitcher Alyssa Faircloth, who has 210 strikeouts, ranking fifth in school history. Shortstop Nadia Barbary ranks among the school’s top in doubles and home runs. Offensively, Kiarra Sells has been hit or walked 20 times in the past 20 games, and Xiane Romero and Paige Ernstes had strong performances against LSU.
The Bulldogs are aiming for their highest win total since 2008. A sweep would give them 39 wins in the regular season. The series begins Thursday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+ in Oxford. The upcoming SEC Tournament will be hosted in Lexington, Kentucky, where Mississippi State would be the No. 10 seed if the season ended today.
Ole Miss, with a 30-22 record and a 4-17 SEC mark, is coached by Jamie Trachsel. The Rebels recently won a series at Auburn and are led by standout freshman Madi George, who earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors. Ole Miss ranks 11th nationally with 27 double plays turned and has notable defensive players such as Cassie Reasner and Kennedy Bunker.
The Rebels’ last series loss was against Mississippi State in May 2025. They will host the Bulldogs in the season finale, with first pitch Thursday at 6 p.m. The series also airs on SEC Network and SEC Network+. Ole Miss’s postseason hopes depend on their final performances of the season.
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